Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1887-02-02
GAMBLERS sUPERsTITIONs.

ANV III NV to'uh1t was
the reply of sporting man in answer
to an inquiry from another of his ilk
whether he had bought any pools on
the races.
"BustcdP" was another laconic in.
quiry.
mo, but l laced one OF my shoes up
wrong this morning It's n bad sign.
I'll let EN- alone to-day"
"Are you suporstitousP"
81 frankly confess that am" he re-
piled, as he lit n cigar, land don't
know Of n sporting man or gambler
that is not superstitious, and, further
more, do not believe there is hui
man being living who is not, OF
course, some are more SO than others,
but take gamblers and horscmen as q
class and you will find that each one
has his own peculiar quilp. Now, this
morning laced my shoe up wrong. If
| had left it that way il would have
been n lucky day for me, but didn't; |
unlaced it, and I'll bet two to one if |
bought pool on horse he would
break his neck before he came under
the string"
That's quite interesting Would you
mind giving me some of your expert
encep What do you consider a lucky
omen"
"You waat 20 nnow what | call
lucky omen, ehP That's just as the
idea strikes me. When | was in New
York last summer used to count white
horses. Say would be standing at
the corner of Fulton street and Broad
way. I'd take out my watch-when |
had onc-and time myself and count
the number of white horses that turned
from Broadway into Fulton street dur
ing five minutes time. | sometimes
would go on the odd numbers and
sometimes on the even. Like this: II
made up my mind on even horses
and an even number went by during
the five minutes then would be lucky,
and vice versa"
al have heard of gamblers visiting
fortune telers for tips. Do you ever
visit themP"
MANY time, sir. Here's one in
stance. | am red-hot republican, and
was backing Jim Blaine to shcol and
gone, when | went one day to see for
tune teller. Says she: You have been
making foolish bets; 90 and bet the
other way all that you havc-all the
money you can beg or borrow | told
her was betting on Blaine. and she
said: Wait Then she went into another
room and came out in about Il minute
Cleveland will be elected us sure rs YOU
sit there in that chair, but he will never
serve his term out That was para
lyzer, but took stock in it, for she
never fooled me in her life. | hedged
and bet on Grover, all on her account,
and made $1,000 clear above my hedge
and OF Kelly, the bookmaker. Here's
another instance from the same wom-
an: had been playing in hard luck.
till / only had Sl2 left. went to her
and told her how was fixed and that |
wanted n tip on the races. She told me
to read the names of the horses to her.
! did so, and when got through the
list she said 'TIlford is the only one |
am sure of; bet your money on Tilford.
went down to the track and when the
horses went TO the post there were only
four tickets out on him. That was a
bonanza, you know. if he won bought
one IS ticket. The track was regular
duck pond, slush up to the horses
knees. Tilford came in last. Oh,
forgot; he was entered for two races
that day The next race he was in |
heard that Mike DAILY, who owned
him, wanlnd to scratch him. but the
judges wouldn't have it. That wasn't
very encouraging, but | stuck to him
and put my last FLYER on him. His
jockey famed him every jump, and
brought him in winner by two
lengths. | got five hundred ood dol
lars for my s. ticket. So much for for
tune-telIers' tips. Some fortune-tcllers
are snide, but take one educated, or
that has it naturally born in them, and |
they get there as Il general rule"
You gamble with cards, do you?"
"Oh, yes; | make my living as a
sporting man."
Does your superstition affect you in
playing cardsP"